A tricky one <sigh>. I need an outfit for a themed wedding, and I will be 7 months pregnant

[ScrambledSmegs]

Help! I'm supposed to be going to a wedding in about 2 months, and I've only just been told that all the guests are supposed to be wearing Hawaiian-style outfits, with a retro twist if possible No exceptions for pregnant women apparently. What the actual jeff am I going to wear?!

This is my second pregnancy and I was really hoping to get away with not buying any more maternity clothes, so the cheaper the better. The weather is likely to be good as it's on the West Coast of America, near the coast. I'm a size 10, about 5'5 and fair skinned/haired, small frame and 'all-bump' so can't get away with non-maternity clothes.

I really don't want to look like a twat in mad floral print, as it doesn't really suit me, but I suppose one day won't hurt. I found this from Crave, but 1) it's not very hawaiian or retro and 2) well, I don't like it very much and it's expensive! If I could find something in the Isabella Oliver sale I wouldn't really mind as I could wear it again this (and maybe next, fx!) pregnancy, but it's really annoying me that I have to shell out for something I will never wear again.

Please help me, Style & Beauty gurus. What do you suggest?

Go to Primark and buy a blokes loud shirt - they have loads in there and hopefully they'll be big enough to cover your bump and it will be cheap too.

Thanks, but I'm a bit on the small side to do that. I've already tried and I was swamped, even with a belt to go around the top of the bump. I'd much prefer something stretchy or slim-fitting to be honest, for the 'I'm not fat, I'm pregnant' look!

Find a nice dress you like and feel comfortable in. If it is a bit prom like or vintage-y so much the better.

Accessorise with Hawaiian style flower garland necklaces (take a couple of cheap fake ones with you in case you can't find them to buy over there), a big flower to put in your hair or another flower band to put around it, then see if you can find a handbag made out of Hawaiian shirt style fabric. Or buy a shirt really cheaply to make your own bag out of or make a belt or corsage or some other accessories from it. And wear flip-flops.

Bingo. You have a touch of vintage, a bit of Hawaiian and you end up with a dress you like, a load of Hawaii themed accessories ready for the dressing up box next themed thing you need to go to and you get to wear comfy flip flops (assuming you like them!) rather than buying expensive fancy shoes!

If they complain you haven't made an effort say that you spent a long time looking but it's not easy to buy maternity Hawaiian costumes so you were actually pretty pleased with your efforts. Will your dp be going and will he have got an ok outfit to take some of the pressure off you?

A grass skirt and a couple of coconut shells?

And a blue suit and quiff for your dh

not very Hawaiian

or this?

You need a mumu...
www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=mumu+dresses

Each uglier than the previous...

Actually, I may buy the first one to wear to work just to see if anyone says anything.

Tropical and cheap

Tropical and expensive

PMSL Frontpaw. Those are hideous!

HappyHippy, I do quite like those but I tend to find that maxi-dresses swamp me a bit. I might get the Red Herring one just to see what it's like - sadly I need straps, I can't get away without.

zipzap, I do like your idea v much. Vintage-style maternity wear is in short supply, and would probably look like a floral tent anyway! Do you think this would be suitable, accessorised appropriately? I would actually wear low heels with it, as advised by docs.

Carole, I don't think I could get away with that, I doubt there are coconuts big enough to cover up my ridiculous pregnant boobs at the moment!

Oh, and DH, lucky sod, is wearing a nice (hired) suit as he is a groomsman. I think he gets to wear exciting accessories though...

Thanks Teardrop. I quite like the Asos one, bizarrely the Tiffany Rose not so much. I clearly have cheap taste!

I've just done some more looking on Asos and found this. It looks a little retro in shape to me, if I accessorised it right I guess it could be a little Hawaiian?

I'm really considering saying sod it, I'm pregnant, are you going to turn me away if I'm not wearing the right theme? Maybe I can just avoid being in the photos so I don't 'spoil' them,

Ooh, it's a bit short, isn't it?! Oh dear...

Too tight? link

Or either of these from ebay

link

link

Thanks Eddie, but I don't think I'd fit in any of those. I'll be 7 months pregnant

Could you do this and just accessorise it up with tropical flowers in hair etc?
Not dirt cheap but reduced at least and the IO stuff tends to be wearable afterwards while you're losing the bump (or has good resale value...)

I have to say that the vintage/retro Hawaiian maternity market is pretty limited and if I was you I would do as a couple of other posters have suggested, buy either the dress Tartiflette linked to or the blue IO one you linked to and wear it with sandals and flower garlands. Only a full-on bridezilla would say anything to a heavily pregnant lady about not following the tacky wedding theme to the letter.

Yeah, I think you're right. I would say someone's missed a trick there but, er, what pregnant woman wants to look like her granny's curtains?!

I like the IO ones and I think I'd wear them again. Just need to decide which one I really, really want now. Quite a pleasant dilemma to have!

Try pinupmama.com?

QUite agree about a 'normal' dress and Hawaiian themed accessories.

OH! searched to link to this great bag and found this, which might be worth a punt at that price. Would be a good bit longer on you than the model.

Off to nose at the IO dresses

I like this and this best of the IO. THe first would probably be too warm and long on you. The second is pretty casual but should dress up well. the grey is vey stylish. Why do so many of their dresses have such dodgy neclines though? THere's no need for it.

The blue asos one is great too though, bargain as well. model is 5'11" so it'd surely be a decent length on?

I think a gorgeous summer dress and overdo the floral accessories, garland in hair or one of those flower necklace thingies, anklets, sandals etc.

Thanks Procrastination. TBH neither of those dresses feel very 'me', although they are lovely and probably would look great on. DH wants me to buy this in Cobalt Blue, but again I'm not too sure about it. Current faves are the Urban dress I linked to earlier, and this Cocktail dress in Cobalt blue.

I do like the bag though. And it's a steal!

I think I'm slightly favouring your DH's choice - somehow seems more in keeping with the theme, but you might find you get more future wear out of the Cocktail one...

Procrastination's bag is a delight.

Go with your DH's choice, it will look fab on a slim you with a big bump. And the flowery garland accessories.
By the way, it is a bit off to tell people 2 months before a wedding that there is a dress theme. Many will have already bought outfits. I would just wear what I wanted, I hate having to dress up in fancy dress.